Chapter 108 Board

Later, Hanabi brought out a board and placed it between herself and Morgan.

"Mo-chan, do you know how to play?"

"Yes, I am aware."

They then began playing turn after turn as Ri-chan yawned whule resting atop a tree branch.

As Hanabi and Morgan continued their battle, Hanabi found herself on the losing end as she has lost a few pieces while Morgan has lost none.

"You're quite good at this." She complimented.

"Thank you." Morgan thanked as she continued playinh while looking as blank as ever.

As they continued playing, Hanabi, even though she was losing, kept a bright smile on her face as she asked. "What do you think of this place?"

"What do I think?"

"Yes, about our surroundings."

"It's quiet and nice... and free. A very hard combination to find."

"I agree. I moved up here since I didn't like how... cramped the city has become. Well, it has always been like that, I was just... to young and innocent to see."

"Yes..." Morgan replied as she continued playing. But as she did so, a hint of emotion formed and disappeared just as quickly.

Hanabi took notice but did not pry into it and continued playing as she asked. "You said you came here a few years back. Were you surprised on how many things have changed?"

"Everything changes. The only thing we can do is adapt to it."

"That is true..." Hanabi then looked at their surroundings, the trees and flowers waving at her.

She then continued. "Like the trees and flowers, there will be time when people bloom and show their best, yet sometimes, the only thing we can see about them is their worst."

Morgan did not reply as they continued to play. Then, Hanabi asked another question. "Say, Mo-chan, can I have your advice about something?"

"Go on."

"Well, what do you do when someone doesn't keep a promise?"

"Punish them."

Hanabi was a bit taken aback at Morgan quick and harsh reply. She then continued. "I think moving straight to punishment is a bit much, don't you think?"

"And what do you suggest? Give them a second chance?" Morgan asked as she continued playing, yet her voice began to be filled with emotion.

"Yes, everyone deserves a second chance."

"If they broke your trust the first time, what stops them from doing it again?"

"Experience, Mo-chan. Experience."

"What kind off 'experience'? The experience of breaking somebody's trust?"

"...yes. But still, everyone should be given a second chance. Even though they broke your trust, you should atleast trust them to not do it again, yes?"

"I trust them to do it again."

As a sweat rolled down her cheek, Hanabi stated. "I think that's a rather pessimistic point of view, Mo-chan."

"It's a realistic one." Morgan said with a stern tone as they continued to play.

Morgan then spoke as she continued to play her pieces.

"Second chances are worthless. If they were TRULY trustworthy, then they shouldn't have done it in the first place, yes?" 

Without waiting for Hanabi to reply, Morgan made her next move on the board as she continued.

"Why would you leave your hand hanging if you knew no one was going to take it?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"Why would you spend the time and effort if you knew how they would receive it?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"Why would you try and make them change if you knew who they really are?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"The only 'experience' you would get from betrayal is, the lesson of not trusting anyone."

*Tap* *Tap*

"It only takes one chance, one moment, to turn against you and stab you in the back." Morgan said, her face now showing an expression of burning anger and her voice filled with harsh coldness.

*Tap* *Tap*

And right after she said that and made her move, Hanabi attacked one of her pieces, finally taking ome of her pieces as she said. "That's where you're wrong, Mo-chan."

*Tap* *Tap*

"Second chances are everything."

*Tap* *Tap*

"If they are TRULY trustworthy, you wouldn't think they would do it a second time, yes?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"The reason you leave your hand hanging even though you knew no one was there to take it is because... you are SURE someone would take it in your time of need."

*Tap* *Tap*

"And the reason people are insane enough to do things repeatedly even though they know the outcome is because they care. They care a lot."

*Tap* *Tap*

"Why would you try and help someone improve if they failed in the past?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"Why would you try again to help those in need if you knew it was their own fault for getting there in the first place?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"Why would YOU try and better yourself if you knew that you failed?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"It's because you care, Mo-chan. You care a lot so don't bother trying to change or hide it."

*Tap* *Tap*

And within that short span of time, Hanabi managed to equal the pieces on the board as Morgan remained on the opposite end, looking very agitated.

But Hanabi was not done yet as she continued. "THE only experience you get from betrayal is, the lesson that it hurts, it hurts so much having your trust just thrown into the ground like it's nothing."

*Tap* *Tap*

"And that's why you try to avoid it, yes?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"Because it hurts. And you don't want to feel that way again, right?"

*Tap* *Tap*

"That's why you have been given a second chance, Mo-chan."

*Tap* *Tap*

"A second chance at it."

*Tap* *Tap*

"A second chance to make the right choices."

*Tap* *Tap*

"A second chance to not make the same mistakes."

*Tap* *Tap*

"A second chance... to do better than before."

*Tap* *Tap*

"Don't you think so aswell, Mo-chan?"

Morgan remained just sitting there with her fist completely clenched, and her teeth biting onto her lip as her face, was now looking down onto the ground with an expression filled with anger and frustration.

Seeing as Morgan didn't want to reply, Hanabi made her move on the board. And after making it, she said. "It's my win, Mo-chan."

And like that, the battle against Hanabi and Morgan ended.

As Morgan remained in that frustrated position, Hanabi said. "Yes, you are correct. It only really takes someone one chance to break everything you have built together..."

"But if what you built was truly there... it would not crumble no matter what the world throws at you."

As Hanabi took a sip of water, Morgan raised her head, showing Hanabi the frustrated expression she currently wore as Morgan said with a voice filled with raw emotion. "Let's play again, Hanabi."

After giving her a bit of a giggle, Hanabi replied. "As you wish, Mo-chan."